NASCAR announce Denny Hamlin absence update ahead of Pocono

NASCAR has announced an update regarding Joe Gibbs Racing star Denny Hamlin and his attendance at this weekend's race at Pocono.

Hamlin did not travel to Mexico City for last weekend's race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez due to the birth of his third child, issuing a statement confirming his absence in advance of the event.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver had been on baby watch for several weeks with his fiancée heavily pregnant, with Ryan Truex getting the call to step in to the No. 11 Toyota last Wednesday.

In his statement, Hamlin ended with 'see you at Pocono', and he is sticking to the plan, with the 44-year-old on the entry list for Sunday's Cup race.

When confirming the list on their official website, NASCAR announced: "Denny Hamlin will return to his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota after missing last Sunday’s race in Mexico City for the birth of his son."

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Denny Hamlin's Pocono record

It is perhaps no surprise that Hamlin is keen to get back behind the wheel this weekend given his record at Pocono Raceway, particularly in recent years.

Hamlin has won seven races at the track during his Cup Series career, and has six finishes inside the top five in his last eight attempts.

Overall, Hamlin has recorded 16 top-five finishes at the track in the Cup Series, and if you expand that to top 10 finishes, he has 23.

Last year, Hamlin finished runner-up to Team Penske's Ryan Blaney at the track, so he will no doubt have his eyes on making up for that this time around.

Following his win at Michigan earlier this month, Hamlin has three victories so far in 2025, and if history is anything to go by, he has a strong chance of taking that tally to four on Sunday.

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